Bed-tub.



E. A. M. GALLAGHER.

BED TUB.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 27, 1912.

1 078,61 7., Patented Nov. 18, 1913. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: P III/MENTOR $4M 7g W41 m ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH c0 ..wAsHlNcrroN, D4 c.

E. A. M. GALLAGHER.

BED TUB.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1912.

1,078,6 1'7, Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/TNESSES: v IIVI/E/VTOR W I 1 B) M COLUMBIA PLANOGRAP'H CO.\VI\SHINGTONI D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BED-TUB.

noise-17.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 27, 1912.. Serial No. 733,838.

1T0 all whom it may concern i Be it known that I, ELIZABETH A. M.

GALLAGHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed-Tubs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a new and improved bed bath tub, referring more particularly to a portable tub for bathing a patient in the bed occupied by him, thereby avoiding the inconvenience and danger in the present practice of taking the patient to a bath room located at some distant point.

It is the object of my invention, among other things, to produce a bath tub of this character into which the patient may be placed with the least possible inconvenience,

both to himself and the attendant, and whichmay be secured in position by simple but positive means.

To these, and other ends, my lnvention consists in the bed bath tub, having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals of reference designate like parts in the several figures; Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved bed bath tub completc; Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof upon line A-B of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken upon line 0-1) of Fig. 1.

In the practice of my invention, I provide a tub 1, preferably of sheet metal, that is substantially semicircular in cross section, having a head plate 2 in one end thereof, and provided upon its upper edge with a rim of rubber 3, secured thereto in any preferred manner. At the foot of the tub, adjacent to the rim thereof, is a boss 4, having an opening 5 therethrough and a pipe 6 connected therewith. At a point substantially below the boss 4- is a similar boss 7, having an opening 8 therethrough, and a pipe 9 connected therewith, this opening 8 being closed by a plug 10, which is manually inserted or removed therefrom at will. The pipes 6 and 9 are preferably made of rubber or other flexible material, the water entering the tub through the pipe 6 and opening 5 and being discharged therefrom through the opening 8 and pipe 9.

. The tub is supported upon a folding tray,

which consists of the side plates 11 and'12,

which are connected by a plurality of cross bars 13 and 14. These crossbars arepivotit ally joined at one end and at the other end are pivotally secured to either of the side bars 11 or 12. This method of connecting the several parts of the tray together permits the folding thereof so that the side bars 11 and 12 may be broughtto a position whereby they abut against eachother or to any intermediate position that may be desired. In their extended positions the parts are all secured against movement by the lock screws 15, which pass freely through the cross plates 13 and are threaded into the adjacent plate 14, or vice versa. drawings, I have shown four of these screws, one near each corner of the tray, but more or loss may be used as desired.

Th-e tub is held in a fixed upright position upon the tray by a plurality of straps 16,

which r provided with the usual buckles 17, and pass through cleats 18, fixed to the tub, and openings 19 in the side bars. 11 and 12.

In operation, the tub is laid upon the bed,

with the rim 3 against the patient, who slides into the tub as it is rolled into a vertical position, at which time the patient rests in the bottom of the tub, his entrance therein having been accomplished with little or no discomfort to him and. without raising his body. After the tub has been placed in a vertical position, the tray is slid thereunder, the lock screws 15 are inserted, and the straps 16 applied, at which time the entire weight of the tub and the patient is dis tributed substantially over the entire surface of the bed and water is then admitted through the flexible tube 6. After the bath, the plug 10 is removed and the water is discharged from the tub through the tube 9 into a receptacle conveniently located to re ceive it.

There are minor changes andalterations In the p that can be made within my invention, aside Q from those herein suggested, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described.

Having described my invention, what I ber to support the same, of greater width than said tub, and upon which said tub may be rolled, and when in its upright position rest with the bottom thereof upon said base member, said base member having several members, all of which move in substantially the same plane while being opened and closed; means for holding said base member in an open position; and means for securing said tub in an upright position upon said base member, said means being upon each side of said tub, connected at one end to the tub and at the other end to a part upon the base member adjacent to the outer edge thereof when said base member is in a locked open position.

2. In a'device of the character described, the combination with a rigid tub; of a folding or collapsible base member to support the same and upon which rests the bottom of said tub; comprising substantially parallel side bars, cross bars connecting said side bars, pivot-ed at their outer ends to one of said cross bars, and together at the inner ends, all of said bars moving in substantially the same plane while being opened or closed.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rigid tub; of a folding or collapsible base member to support the same and upon which rests the bottom of said tub, comprising substantially parallel side bars, cross bars connecting said side bars, pivoted at their outer ends to one of said cross bars, and together at the inner ends, all of said bars moving in substantially the same plane while being opened or closed; and a member upon each side of said tub separably securing the same to said side bars. a p

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELIZABETH A. M. GALLAGHER- lVitnesses M. KA'rz, Gnome B. CHENKIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, I). C. 

